This blog provides supplementary thoughts and ideas to the www.bridgematters.com site. If you haven't seen the main site, there is a lot there including the Martel and Rodwell interviews, photos, and articles. This blog is focused on advancing bridge theory by discussing the application of new ideas. All original content is copyright 2009 Glen Ashton.

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Prep for the Worlds 08

In the Worlds 08 events, teams often invest some time in preparing for their opponents. Canada's Senior team, leading their group after day 1, had each team member look at 2 or 3 of their opponents, and determine what, if anything, required some countermeasures.

For the Open team we looked at the 16 opposing teams, and categorized the various methods that could be encountered - it is "could" since most teams have 3 pairs, but only 2 of those will sit in any one match. One might not face the strangest systems even after getting ready for them.

For the methods the open team might encounter, a booklet on countermeasures was prepared. However this booklet might never be actually used in bidding of any of the matches. Here's why:

- Each Canadian pair has their own methods against commonly used openings- As mentioned above, the Canadian team may not face some of the more unusual systems- Unusual openings and follow-ups may never occur in the 16 board matches- The Canadian pairs may decide to use natural bidding against anything mindboggling

B-MAP 08 Defence Map (this codes each item with a letter - for examples P is a Polish Club, T is a two-way club)

B-A Defence to CanapeB-B Defence to Big CB-C Defence to Short 1CB-D Defence to 2D short in DsB-E Defence to 2H short in Ds, 11-15 (or so)B-F Defence to 2D Flannery (5Hs, 4Ss)B-G Defence to 2H Flannery (5Hs, 4Ss)B-HISV Defence to 2M for 5+M and a minor or 2M for 5+M and any other suitB-J Defence to 2C either strong or weak-two in DsB-K Defence to 2C or 2D for Majors (no strong option)B-LM Defence to MultiB-N Defence to 1D opening that could be short as 2, 1, or 0B-O Defence to 2M = MajorsB-PT Defence to Polish 1C, 1C forcing that includes a mix and 2-way forcing 1CB-Q Defence to 2C opening for Majors, with strong optionB-R Defence to 2NT for minorsB-U Defence to 3NT unknown suit preempt and/or gamblingB-W Defence to Weak and mini notrumpsB-XZ Defence to Mexican 2D (18-19 bal), or strong artificial 2D OpeningB-Y Defence to 4C and 4D Strong Major Preempt (NAMYATS)